Apple Supercharges the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips
TL;DR: Apple has launched the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The laptops feature a new dual-die Fusion Architecture, up to 128GB of unified memory, Wi-Fi 7, and Thunderbolt 5. Base storage has been doubled, with prices starting from RM6,999 for the 14-inch M5 model in Malaysia.
Following the reveal of its next-generation silicon, Apple has officially announced the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Powered by the all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the latest iterations of the world’s best-selling pro laptop bring massive leaps in performance, on-device AI capabilities, and starting storage capacities.
Blazing Performance Built for AI
The core of the new MacBook Pro is Apple’s new Fusion Architecture, a design that combines two dies into a single System on a Chip (SoC).
The M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a new CPU with up to 18 cores, including six “super cores” that boast the world’s fastest single-threaded performance, alongside 12 performance cores. This configuration delivers up to 30 per cent faster processing for multithreaded professional workloads.
Graphics and artificial intelligence receive the most significant upgrades. By placing a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core, the new chips deliver up to four times the AI performance of the previous generation. This allows AI researchers, developers, and creatives to train custom models locally and leverage powerful AI video and audio tools without relying on cloud processing.
To support these massive computational tasks, the M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with a 307GB/s bandwidth, while the M5 Max scales up to a staggering 128GB of memory with an immense 614GB/s bandwidth.
Faster Storage and Upgraded Base Models
Apple has also vastly improved the data transfer speeds on the new machines. The MacBook Pro now features SSD read and write performance up to twice as fast as the previous generation, reaching speeds of up to 14.5GB/s. This allows professionals to scrub through 8K video timelines and massive datasets with zero latency.
In a major win for consumers, Apple has increased the base storage across the entire lineup. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M5 chip now starts at 1TB of storage. The M5 Pro models also start at 1TB, while the ultra-premium M5 Max models come standard with 2TB of storage out of the box.
Connectivity and macOS Tahoe
The new MacBook Pro is packed with cutting-edge connectivity options. It features the Apple-designed N1 chip for high-speed Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. The device also includes three Thunderbolt 5 ports for ultra-fast data transfer, an HDMI port that supports 8K external displays, an SDXC card slot, and MagSafe 3 charging.
Despite the immense power, the laptops continue to deliver up to 24 hours of battery life.
Out of the box, the machines run on macOS Tahoe. The new operating system introduces a “Liquid Glass” design aesthetic, live audio translation, and deep Apple Intelligence integration to turbocharge daily productivity.
Pricing and Availability
The new MacBook Pro is available in space black and silver. Malaysian customers can place their orders soon via the Apple Store online and authorised resellers.
14-inch MacBook Pro
- M5 (1TB): Starts at RM6,999 (Education: RM6,599)
- M5 Pro (1TB): Starts at RM8,999 (Education: RM8,399)
- M5 Max (2TB): Starts at RM14,999 (Education: RM13,669)
16-inch MacBook Pro
- M5 Pro (1TB): Starts at RM10,999 (Education: RM10,199)
- M5 Max (2TB): Starts at RM15,999 (Education: RM14,799)
